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Brownstone Experience Foundation

EIN 27-0378472 · Lawrence, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE BROWNSTONE EXPERIENCE FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO INTRODUCE JEWISH EDUCATION AND RAISE JEWISH AWARENESS AND HISTORY TO UNAFFILIATED JEWISH COLLEGIATES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, USING NEW YORK CITY AS ITS CLASSROOM

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 241% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE BROWNSTONE EXPERIENCE'S IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BRINGING TOGETHER UNAFFILIATED JEWISH COLLEGIATE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND AFFILIATIONS AND USING NEW YORK CITY AS AN EXPERIENTIAL CLASSROOM. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO SHAPE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN JEWISH IDENTITIES, AND BECOME INNOVATORS AND LEADERS COMMITTED TO SERVING THEIR JEWISH COMMUNITIES. USING NEW YORK CITY AND ITS ATTRACTIONS AS THE DRAWING CARD, PARTICIPANTS PARTAKE IN THE CITY'S RICH AND VIBRANT JEWISH LIFE, AND ITS HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TREASURES. THROUGH THE MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THE BROWNSTONE OFFERS, PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH PROGRAM LEADERS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF TOTAL IMMERSION OF LEARNING. METRO TRIPS OFFERS PARTICIPANTS 10 DAYS OF "IMMERSION EXPERIENCE" WHERE JEWISH ISSUES AND HISTORY ARE EXPLORED. LEADERSHIP WEEKEND RETREATS OFFER PARTICIPANTS A CONDENSED, BUT POWERFUL VERSION OF METRO TRIPS. WE ALSO OFFER YEAR-ROUND CLASSES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS. CITY TRIPS AND CITY WEEKEND TRIPS TAKE 50 YOUNG JEWISH ADULTS TO THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK CITY, WHICH REPRESENTS A CITY SHAPED BY IMMIGRANTS OF VARIOUS CULTURAL BACK ROUNDS. FEW GROUPS HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK AS INDELIBLY AS THE JEWISH IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME TO THE SHORES OF NEW YORK. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE NEW YORK'S CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TREASURES AND DELVE INTO ISSUES OF JEWISH IDENTITY AND HERITAGE. MOST WEEKENDS ARE THEMED WITH JEWISH IDENTITY AND EXPERIENCE THE HOLY WEEKEND WITH SHABBAT EXPERIENCE THAT TEACHES THE SACRED AND HOLY DAY OF THE SABBATH. THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS USE THE MOST INNOVATIVE METHODS TO TEACH AND HELP THE YOUNG ADULTS EXPLORE THEIR JEWISH CULTURE AND HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES. THE INTERACTION WITH VERY PROMINENT PEOPLE INCLUDING TOP JEWISH PROFESSIONALS, PHILANTHROPISTS, SPIRITUAL LEADERS, LEADING BUSINESS PERSONS, WELL KNOWN FIGURES IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE AND HANDS ON INTERACTIONS WITH THE MANY LARGE JEWISH CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS, (MET COUNCIL, F.E.G.S., WELFARE PROGRAMS OF THE UJA ORGANIZATION), WILL ENABLE THE YOUNG ADULTS TO LEARN AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ULTIMATELY LEAD THEM TO CHOSE TO EXPAND THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF OTHERS. THE BROWNSTONE EXPERIENCE'S IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BRINGING TOGETHER UNAFFILIATED JEWISH COLLEGIATE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND AFFILIATIONS AND USING NEW YORK CITY AS AN EXPERIENTIAL CLASSROOM. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO SHAPE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN JEWISH IDENTITIES, AND BECOME INNOVATORS AND LEADERS COMMITTED TO SERVING THEIR JEWISH COMMUNITIES. USING NEW YORK CITY AND ITS ATTRACTIONS AS THE DRAWING CARD, PARTICIPANTS PARTAKE IN THE CITY'S RICH AND VIBRANT JEWISH LIFE, AND ITS HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TREASURES. THROUGH THE MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THE BROWNSTONE OFFERS, PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH PROGRAM LEADERS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF TOTAL IMMERSION OF LEARNING. METRO TRIPS OFFERS PARTICIPANTS 10 DAYS OF "IMMERSION EXPERIENCE" WHERE JEWISH ISSUES AND HISTORY ARE EXPLORED. LEADERSHIP WEEKEND RETREATS OFFER PARTICIPANTS A CONDENSED, BUT POWERFUL VERSION OF METRO TRIPS. WE ALSO OFFER YEAR-ROUND CLASSES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS. CITY TRIPS AND CITY WEEKEND TRIPS TAKE 50 YOUNG JEWISH ADULTS TO THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK CITY, WHICH REPRESENTS A CITY SHAPED BY IMMIGRANTS OF VARIOUS CULTURAL BACK ROUNDS. FEW GROUPS HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK AS INDELIBLY AS THE JEWISH IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME TO THE SHORES OF NEW YORK. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE NEW YORK'S CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TREASURES AND DELVE INTO ISSUES OF JEWISH IDENTITY AND HERITAGE. MOST WEEKENDS ARE THEMED WITH JEWISH IDENTITY AND EXPERIENCE THE HOLY WEEKEND WITH SHABBAT EXPERIENCE THAT TEACHES THE SACRED AND HOLY DAY OF THE SABBATH. THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS USE THE MOST INNOVATIVE METHODS TO TEACH AND HELP THE YOUNG ADULTS EXPLORE THEIR JEWISH CULTURE AND HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES. THE INTERACTION WITH VERY PROMINENT PEOPLE INCLUDING TOP JEWISH PROFESSIONALS, PHILANTHROPISTS, SPIRITUAL LEADERS, LEADING BUSINESS PERSONS, WELL KNOWN FIGURES IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE AND HANDS ON INTERACTIONS WITH THE MANY LARGE JEWISH CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS, (MET COUNCIL, F.E.G.S., WELFARE PROGRAMS OF THE UJA ORGANIZATION), WILL ENABLE THE YOUNG ADULTS TO LEARN AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ULTIMATELY LEAD THEM TO CHOSE TO EXPAND THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.